In these trying times of national recession, Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay is confident that small is not only beautiful, it's better – at least when it comes to attracting veteran artists who might otherwise perform in larger venues for bigger audiences and higher ticket prices.

Those artists include Jackson Browne, LeAnn Rimes, Loggins & Messina, Carlos Mencia and Puscifer (Tool singer Maynard James Keenan), who will all be making their debuts at the intimate Shelter Island venue this year.

In addition, some artists who haven't played at Humphrey's in years or even decades – such as Bonnie Raitt and Diana Krall – have return engagements in the coming season. Tickets for this year's concerts go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.

“This is the year of the small, or smaller, venue,” said Humphrey's owner Richard Bartell, whose 1,400-capacity venue celebrates its 28th anniversary this year. He is the general partner of Bartell Hotels, which owns the concert series, the adjacent Humphrey's Restaurant and Half Moon Inn & Suites, and six other San Diego area hotels.

“There are performers who want to tour and play to their fan base this year and who are willing to consider playing at a smaller place,” Bartell said.

Raitt, who performs on a Sept. 17 double-bill with Taj Mahal, last appeared at Humphrey's in 1987, two years before her multi-Grammy Award-winning album “Nick of Time” took her career to a much higher level – and much larger venues.

Also returning this year to Humphrey's, after a nine-year absence, is the rock band Chicago, along with jazz superstar Krall and blues-rocker George Thorogood, both of whom last performed at the venue in 2002.

Humphrey's has managed to attract a significant number of acts that are also appearing at larger venues in other cities this summer. Fifteen of the 50-plus Humphrey's acts booked thus far – including Browne, Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Heart and the Brian Setzer Orchestra – also have confirmed dates at either the 6,162-seat Greek Theatre or the 6,089-seat Gibson Amphitheatre, both in Los Angeles.

This also reflects the scarcity of intimate outdoor pop-music venues in San Diego. The SDSU Open Air Theatre, which only has two announced shows coming up so far, has a capacity of 4,600. Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, which holds 19,442, has 13 concerts currently scheduled. But it's still early in the season and more dates will be announced soon at Cricket, which in recent years has averaged about two-dozen shows per season.

Humphrey's, which last year drew more than 76,000 concertgoers to 61 evenings of music and comedy, expects to add up to 10 more shows for this season in the coming weeks and months. The venue is counting in part on its longevity to help it fare well this year, when rival outdoor concert series at larger venues will again be staged at such area casinos as Viejas, Valley View, Harrahs Rincon and Pala.

“People are cutting back on vacations and big expenses, but we have a very loyal fan base,” said Bobbi Brieske, Humphrey's concert manager for the past 21 years.